2012 season to be the last for Chipper Jones

Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sports Network) - Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper
Jones announced Thursday that he will retire following the 2012 season.

Jones, who contemplated retirement in the past, has spent his entire career
with Atlanta, the same club that drafted him first overall in 1990.

The Florida native made his debut three years later and then finished second
in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1995.

Jones will turn 40 next month and has battled some injury issues the past few
years. When in the lineup, however, he has still been productive as his 2011
numbers illustrate: .275 batting average, 18 home runs and 70 RBI.

Arguably one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history, Jones owns a
.304 career batting average with 454 home runs, 526 doubles and 1,561 RBI in
2,387 games over 18 major league seasons. He is one of two active players
(along with Anaheim's Albert Pujols) to have over 400 homers and more walks
than strikeouts (1,455-1,358).

A seven-time All-Star, Jones won a World Series with the Braves in 1995 and
was a member of two other pennant winners. He has hit .288 with 13 homers and
47 RBI in 92 career postseason games.